By Yussif Ibrahim
Kumasi, Dec. 2, GNA – The Affirmative Action Law Coalition (AALC) has called for urgent and decisive action to address the rising cases of violence against women and girls in Ghana, particularly the surge in digital abuse.
A statement signed by Ms Shieila Menkah Premo, Convener, and issued by the Coalition to mark the start of the 2025 global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, described the growing wave of online harassment, threats, and sexualised attacks as a national crisis that mirrored the physical violence occurring in homes, workplaces and communities across the country.
This year’s campaign is being observed under the theme: “UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls.”
The coalition noted that viral videos of women being assaulted, recordings of intimate partner abuse and widely shared incidents of public humiliation, were not new problems, but instead evidence of longstanding violence that digital technology had finally exposed.
“What we see online is only the surface of a much deeper national crisis,” the statement said.
According to the Coalition, digital platforms had become powerful tools used to intimidate and silence women, including politicians, journalists, professionals, activists, students, and everyday social media users.
The statement highlighted the increasing use of insults, doctored videos, threats, blackmail, and non-consensual sharing of private images, warning that these acts have real-life consequences.
“These attacks damage reputations, affect mental health, and make many women afraid to speak publicly or get involved in leadership,” the coalition stressed.
The coalition reminded the public that the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (Act 1121) provided strong legal protections for women facing online or offline abuse.
Under Section 28(1), it is an offence to intimidate, victimise, or obstruct women in ways that undermine their participation, or to use gender-based hate speech, stereotyping, and silencing tactics.
These provisions, the coalition emphasised, apply to digital behaviour as well, meaning perpetrators of online abuse can face fines or imprisonment.
The AALC noted that violence, particularly digital violence, remained a major reason many women hesitate to enter politics or leadership roles.
It stressed that Ghana’s ambition to increase women’s representation in Parliament, district assemblies, media leadership, and other high-level positions would not be realised unless women felt safe in all spaces.
The coalition called on policymakers, media houses, civil society organisations, digital platform owners, and the public to promote awareness of the protections under Act 1121 and ensure full enforcement of Section 28(1) to hold perpetrators accountable.
As the 16 Days of Activism campaign unfolds globally, the Affirmative Action Law Coalition reaffirmed its commitment to pushing for the full implementation of the Affirmative Action Act and advocating for safe and inclusive spaces for all women and girls.
“When women feel safe online and offline, they participate more fully in national development, strengthening Ghana’s democracy,” the statement said.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Christian Akorlie